Line upon Line

To the Rescue, Arm in Arm

Hundreds of people stood on the shore of Panama City Beach in Florida on July 8 and watched a family struggling to free themselves from a dangerous ocean riptide current. Good Samaritans swam to their aid, only to find themselves stuck as well.

Soon the group in the riptide numbered nine beachgoers—including two boys, ages 8 and 11, and an elderly woman. The group frantically waved their arms and yelled.

A crowd gathered on the beach, unsure of how to help. Ocean waves seemed to be taking the group further and further out to sea, according to CNN.

Police and paramedics arrived on the scene but appeared helpless. They told the crowd on the beach that a boat was coming to help.

Chain of rescuers

But those on the shore did not wait.

“I saw a group of people, a few at first, and then more and more, start forming a human chain,” witness Rosalind Beckton told CNN.